Macaroni press



.Fufiy 22, 1924. LSQZOZE J. DE FRANCISCE MACARONI PRESS Filed Dec. 1 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Jul 22, 1924. 1,502,021

I J. DE FRANCISCI MACARONI PRES S Filed Dec. 1. 1921 a Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VI'EY the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn,

Patented July 22, 1924.

JOSEPH FRANCISGI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MACARONI IPRESS.

Application filed December 1, 1921. Serial No. 519,108. I

To all whom itmay concern: I

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DE FnAnoIsoI, a citizen of the United States, residing at county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Macaroni Press, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a press including hydraulic mechanismfor imparting movement to a plunger operating within a cylinder and co-operating with an expressing die.

' The invention is adapted, more particularly, for the production of macaroni, although the mechanism as a whole or parts thereof may be used in other industries.

One object of the invention is to secure a tight connection between a plunger cylinder and a detachable head for said cylinder with a view to precluding leakage of the fluid supplied under hydraulic pressure for the power stroke of the press plunger. A further objectis to provide a novel valve mechanism which performs the functions of controlling the fluid under pressure Loone side or the other of the press plunger and to control the return flow of such fluid to the pump mechanism, an important feature of. said valve mechanism being to release the pressure through the valve in a simple and facile manner prior to the actual reversal of said valve for effecting the control of the fluid under .pressure and the return flow of said fluid.

. A further object is to lock the valve actuator and to release the same by fluid pressure means as the plunger moves in the direction of its effective stroke. k

A further object is to lock the dough cylinders in alinement with the plunger cylinder to the .end that there will be no relative movement of one cylinder to the other at the beginning of the effective stroke of the plunger or during the travel of said plunger.

According to this invention, the plunger cylinder is-provided with an external solid collar adjacent the outer (upper) end thereof, and on this end of said cylinder is fitted,

a detachable cylinder head, a compressible packing being interposed between cylinder and head. Co-operating with the head is a clamp in the form of a ring composed of separable parts bolted solidly together, said annular clamp being provided with a flange or lugs'adapted to fit snugly to the under side of the cylinder collar so as to interlock therewith. The annular clamp carries a number of binding screws adapted for contact with the cylinder head. These screws are tightened against the head for compress ing the gasket, and the pressure of the screws is resisted by the flange or lugs of the clamp in engagement with the cylinder .collar,

whereby I am enabled to obviate the elongation of the ordinary stud bolts under the hydraulic pressure and to retain the head in suchtight relation to the cylinder as to Eflegtually preclude leakage of the motive The controlling valve includes a valve shell provided with a cylindrical bore and a tapering seat,tadapted to receive the stem and conical head of a rotatable valve, whereby tlie valve is mounted in the shell to utilize the pressure in retaining the valve to its seat, as a result of which leakage is pre eluded. The several pipes are connected to the valve shell for the purpose of feeding the fluid under pressure to the valve, of returning the fluid to the pump, of feeding the from the pump to one end or the other of the plunger cylinder as well as to provide for the flow of the fluid from the pressure cylinder to' the return pump pipe. An important feature of the valve mechanism consists of means for relieving the valve from the pressure of the -motive 'fiuid' prior to the rotative movement of said valve, whereby the manual operation of said valve To this end, the valve shell is provided with a by-pass leading from the pressure chamber to a bonnet valve which is seated within said valve shell at a point in the return circuit, and with this bonnet valve cooperates a valve lifting cam forming a part of a bush-1 ing rotatably fitted on the stem of the r0- tatable valve. With the bushing is com-' bined a lever member provided with a 100' is rendered. capable of easy' performance.

plurality of studs, and to this lever member is connected a link which is attached to a lever adapted to be operated by fluid pres-.

' in order to aline it with the press cylinder,

sure so that as the press plunger descends and approaches the end of its effective stroke the bushing and cam will be partially rotated for lifting the bonnet valve so as to relieve the valve from the pressure of the motive fluid prior to the manual rotation of said valve. (lo-operating with the studsof the lever member is a valve actuator attached to the stem of the valve so that the operator is enabled, subsequent to the release of the pressure by the bonnet valve, to shift the valve in one directionor the other for reversing the direction of flow of the motive fluid to and from the plunger cylinder. The rocking movement of the valve and the valve actuator is arrested by suitable stops in the path of said actuator.

A further feature of the invention is a locking contrivance for the dough cylinder comprising a latchslidably fitted to the press frame and c'o-operating with notched arms on the dough cylinders. Said latch is held in an operative position by spring pressure, and it is held in a retracted position by a detent.

Other functions and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press especially adapted for the manufacture of macaroni, illustrating an hydraulically operated-plunger cylinder in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the plunger cylinder.

, Figure 3 is an enlarged view in side ele vation of the" controlling valve and the actuating means therefor. 1

Figure 4: is a cross section on the line v i t ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detailed plan view of the rocking valve removed from the valve casing.

'Figure 7 is a cross section through the valve in the plane of the dotted line 7+7 of Figure 9, showing the valve in a position for controlling the flow of fluid to one endof the cylinder and the return of fluid from the other end of the cylinder to the valve.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the valve in a reverse position.

Figure 9 is'a longitudinal section through a part of the valve member in a position for permitting the flow of the fluid under pressure from the pump into one of the pipes leading from the plunger cylinder.

Figure 10 is another detailed longitudinal view through the valve mechanism showing construction, is a'plunger cylinder B within which operates a plunger C, the diameter of which is slightly lessthan the internal diameter of the plunger cylinder so as to leave. an intermediate space 0. At its upper end the plunger is provided with a piston head 6 and with paokings Z) 6 of any suitable character. At its lower end the plunger is provided with a flange 0 with which cooperates means to be hereinafter described for shifting the valve mechanism so as to release the pressure on the turning plug of said valve. The upper end of the cylinder is closed by a head D adapted to be clamped by novel means constituting a part of my invention. The cylinder is provided at its upper end with an externalflange e extending outwardly from the cylinder wall, and between the cylinder wall and the head is positioned a compressible gasket f adapted to produce a liquid tight connection between the cylinder wall and the head so as to effectually preclude the leakage of the. motive fluid supplied under the required pressure to the end of the cylinder in forcing the plunger downwardly with an effective stroke. One of the improvements which T have made consists of means forclamping thehead D uponthe cylinder in a way to resist the hydraulic pressure supplied to the cylinder between the piston head of the plunger and the removable cylinder head D.

E designates a clamp composed of complemental sections E E provided with radial flanges e and assembled in'abutting relation so as tobe secured solidly together by transverse bolts 6 as shown more clearly in Figure 2. The annular clamp is of separableconstruction for ready assemblage with respect to the upper end of the cylinder, an essential feature of the annular clamp consisting of the inwardly extending flange g provided. on the lower "edge of the clamp and adapted for engagement with the under face of the external shoulder 6 pro vided on the cylinder, The annular clamp carries a series of set screws or stud bolts G which are screwed into threaded bores provided in the clamp, said set screws or stud bolts being adapted-tobe tightened against the head D for the purpose of drawing the flange g of the clamp into tight engagement with the external shoulder of the cylinder.

'order to secure the necessary liquid tight connection between the cylinder and its head.

4 latch G.

In my invention the stud bolts Gr are not subjected to elongated strain under hydraulic pressure admitted to the cylinder,'and thus the stud bolts serve as an eflicient means for holding the cylinder head in tight en gagement with the cylinder for precluding leakage of the hydraulic pressure. The lower end of the plunger cylinder is open so that the plunger or ram C may travel therein; but the motive fluid is precluded from leaking from' the open lower end of .said plunger cylinder by a packing 0 positioned within a recess provided in the cylinder wall, as shown in Fi ure 1. This packing' is compressed arounc the plunger by a gland C secured to the end face of the cylinder by stud bolts 0 said packing 0 being of a form commonly used in the art so as to beexpanded by the pressure of the motive fluid in order to secure the necessary-contact with the plunger or ram.

F F are the dough cylinders coupled together at 7 and fitted on one of the press columns to rest upon collars 7, so that the dough cylinders are free to turn on the press columns for the purpose of positioning one dough cylinder or the other into alinement vertically with the hydraulic cylinder B. It will be understood that each dough cylinder is open at the upper end and provided in the lower end with an expressing die. as is usual in the art. Furthermore, each dough cylinder is provided with an outwardly extending arm 9 adapted to fit around one of the press columns when said cylinder is in alinement with the hydraulic cylinder, each of the arms 9 being provided with a notch g ada ted to be engaged by a This late is shown in Figure 1 as being slidably mounted in keepers g and said latch is adapted to enter one notch g for lockin the dough cylinder in alined relation with the hydraulic cylinder. The latch is retained in an elevated operative position by a spring 9 acting on the lower end of a rod 7 having-a head 9 which enters one of the notches 9 provided in said latch. l/Vhen the latch is withdrawn, a detent G enters one of the notches g for locking the latch in a retracted position, thus holding the latch out of the path of the notched arm 9 upon the rotative movement of the dough cylinders.

Referring now to the valve mechanism, H designates a valve shell and I a rotating plug or valve member. As shown more particu larly in Figures 4, 9 and 10, the valve shell is provided with a bore h which is enlarged and made tapering at one end as at h so as to form a seat, the bore it being enlarged toward the other end so as to result in a shoulder 72 and to produce a chamber h for the motive fluid returning from the plunger cylinder to the pump. The valveshell is open at one end as at 7' to receive a closure plug J adapted to be screwed into the open end j, said plug being provided with an external shoulder j and with a squared lug ja The lug is adapted to receive a wrench or other implement for screwing the plug tightly into the valve shell,'a nd between the shoulder 19" of the plug and the valve shell is interposed a gasket i which is compressed by the operation of screwing on the plug so as to secure a water tight joint between the valve shell and the closure plug.

The valve plug 1 consists of a'cylindrical stem i and a conical head 71 with a flat end face, see Figures 4:, 6, 9 and 10. The cylindric'al stem of the valve is made polygonal or angular in cross section as at 2' and the end of this stem is reduced and threaded as at 2' The conical head i of the valve is provided with a plurality of fluid passages k is terminating in ports 76 Z0 respectively. In addition to the passages it h saidvalve is provided with a longitudinal passage Z which opens at one end so as to form a port Z and the other end of which passage Z opens in an opposite direction so as to form a port Z the passage Z and the port Z being indicated by dotted lines in Figure '6 and in full lines in Figures 4 and 10.

relative spacing there is provided a pressure I chamber K within the valve shell and inter mediate the plug J and the flat end face of the valve head i, see Figures 4, 9 and 10.

A pressure pipe L leads from the pump or accumulator to the valve shell H and is connected fixedly thereto for direct connec-- tion with the pressure chamber K. Return pipe M leads from the valve mechanism to the puinp said pipe M beingv coupled to the valve shell H fordirect connection with the return chamber h From the valve shell two pipes N 0 extend to the plunger cylinder .B, said pipe N leading to the upper end of the plunger cylinder B and connected directly thereto at a point below the cylinder head D, wherea as the pipe 0 is connected with the plunger cylinder for connection with thenarrow annular space normally existing between cylinder B and the plunger, a shown in Figure l.

The lower end of the pipe-N is in communication with a fluid passage n provided in the valve shell H so as to open at a certain point into the conical seat h. Tn a similar manner, the lower end of the other connection withpa'ssages n 0, respectively.'

It will be understood that the valve plug ll may be turned to the position of Figure 8 in.

order to bring the port 70 of passage is into register with the port n of pipe N, and at the same time the port Z of passage Z is in register with the port 0 of pipe Q. l/Vith the parts in the described position the motive fluid under pressure is free to pass from chamber K through the passage is and port 70? or the Valve plug into the portn and thence to the pipe for admitting the motive fluid to the upper end of the plunger cylinder whereby the plunger is forced downward with the required force, and at the same time the fluid previously admitted to the space 0 existing between the plunger and the cylinder is free to pass through the pipe@ and its port a into the passage Z of the valve and thence to the chamber h of the valve shell so that the returning motive fluid will pass through the pipe M back to the pump. For reversing the operation, the

a valve plug is turned in the manner hereinafter explained to occupy the position in Figure 7 wherein the port is of the valve is in register with the port 0 of pipe Q, and the port of passage Z of said valve plug is in register with the port at of valve shell H. The motive fluid under pressure passes from the chamber K through the passage is to the port 10 and thence through the port 0 into the pipe Q admitting the motive fluid to the space 0 between the plunger and the cylinder for the purpose of applyingpressure to the under sideof the plunger head in order to raise said plunger within the cylinder, and at the same time the fluid previously admitted to the upper part of the cylinder is free to/pass through the .pipe N and port 90, into the passage 1 of the valve, thence flowing into the chamber it and through the return pipe M back to the ump'.

It will be observed that the flat end ace of the valve head is exposed to pressure of the motive fluid supplied from the pump by the r p conical head of thevalve into such tight engagement with seat k as to preclude leak- L tothe chamber K, thus forcing the age from the valve; but owing to the pressure of the motive fluid directly upon the end of the valve, it becomes difficult to rotate the valve in order to control the flow of the pressure to one pipe or the other, N Q With a View to overcoming this objection, and rendering easy the operation of reversing the valve plug, I provide means for relieving the valve plug from the pressure of the motive fluid. To this end, a by-pass p is provided in the valve shell H, one end of the by-pass passage opening into the pres sure chamber K. Said by-pass is in free communication with chamber 1), the bottom of which constitutes a seat 39 for a bonnet valve P, said chamber 10 opening into a port 9 which is in tree communication with the return chamber 71/3. The upper part ot the chamber 39 is closed by a plug P adapted to unscrew for obtaining access to the bonnet valve. Said bonnet valve is exposed to the pressure of the motive'fluid admitted to the chamber K and admitted also through the by-pass p to the chamber 1), whereby the pressure holds the bonnet valve to its seat,

Means are provided for lifting the bonnet valve in order to open a path for the motive fluid from the by-pass p to the return chamber h ,-said means consisting of a valve lifting cam Q of angular form in cross section, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. This valve lifting cam is provided at the inner end of a bushing Q,', which is rotatably fitted on the cylindrical part i of the rocking valve, the valve lifting cam Q, constituting an unitary part of the bushing Q. Said valve lifting cam is provided with a curved face 9 which is fitted snugly on the cylindrical stem i of the valve, and the bushing Q is fitted into the chamber 72. and loosely encircles the the valve stem and within the chamber h The bushing extends beyond the end or the valve shell opposite to the plug J, said bushlOG 'valve stem '5 so that the bushing will turn on ing being unitary with aplate member Q which is provided with an outwardly extending lever 'arm It. To the lever arm is pivoted the lower end of a link 1' by pivotal connection r, said link 1- extending upwardly to a suitable form of a lever B. This lever is fulcrumed at r on one of the press columns and the inthe lever being in the at the lower end of the the upward movener end p'ortion of path of the flange 0* press plunger, whereby on ment ot the press plunger as it approaches the lower limit of its travel,

operating device in the the flange c lifts the inner end of the lever ltt and depresses the motive fluid confined within the annular space cis free to pass through the port t into the chamber t within which chamber operates a piston T, the stem t of which is in contact with the inner end of the lever R, whereby on the downward movement of the plunger C some of the motive fluid passes through the port t and-acts upon the piston T for. depressing the latter, the effect of which is to force downward the inner end of the lever ll, thus lifting rod '1 and the lever R so as to turn the bushing Q and the valve lifter Q, in an opposite direction, thereby opening the bonnet valve to release the pressure on the end face of the valve plug 1.

Means are provided for rocking the valve plug it by the movement of the lever R. 0n

the squared part 2' of the valve stem is fitted a valve actuator U in the form of a plate, said actuator being held fixedly on the stem of the valve plug by a washer u engaged by a spring washer 1/ which is in turn held by a nut a screwed on the threaded end 2' of the valve stem. 'lhis valve actuator is.

spaced relatively to the disk member Q of the bushing and the lever arm by collars see Figure 4. The plate member Q3 of the bushing and lever is provided with studs or pins 112 w which are made fast with the plate member Q and positioned on opposite sides of the valve actuator U adjacent one end of the latter. The movement of the valve actuator is arrested in one direction or the other by stop pins :0 w attached to the valve shell H and positioned in the path of the valve actuator U at the other end thereof, see Figure 3. When the lever B is lifted to turn the plate member Q? and the bushing, the stud w engages with one end of the actuator U for the purpose of turning the valve l in its seat within the valve shell; but when the lever B is forced downward the other stud w is brought into contact with the valve actuator U for the purpose of rocking the valve T in an opposite direction within the seat. 'it will be noted that the lever R is moved for a limited distance to unseat the bonnet valve and release the pressure on the plug valve before its stud w or w contacts .with the valve actuator, which contact of the stud with the valve actuator imparts a rotative movement to the plug valve the eflect of which is to relieve the pressure before the turning movement is given to the plug valve.

This release of the pressure enables the plug valve to be turned easily, and there is thus a successive operation of the plug valve to the bonnet valve, although the operation of the two parts takes place from practically the same element; to-wit, the lever R The operation may be summarized as follows: With the lunger in the elevated position as shown in Figure 1, the valve plug 1 is in the osition of Figure 8, so that the motive fiui supplied by the pipe L to the chamber K will pass through the feed passage k and port k of the valve into the port n and then-cethrough the pipe N to the upper end of the cylinder, and at the same time the pressure from chamber K flows through the by-pass p so'as to hold the bonnet valve P in the closed position of Figure 12, any of the liquid present in the annular space 0 between the plunger and the cylinder being free to return through the pipe U and the port 0 into. the assage Z of the valve plug, thence to the c amber k and by pipe M back to the pump. The continued supply of the motive fluid to the upper end of the cylinder forces the plunger downward at the required speed for expelling the material within one of the dough cylinders through the die; but as the plunger approaches the limit of its lower movement some of the motive fluid present in the space 0 flows into the chamber t and depresses the piston T, the efiect of which is to depress the inner end of the lever R, thus lifting the rod 1' and the lever B. As the lever is raised the bushing Q and the cam Q are turned to lift the bonnet valve, thus opening the by-pass for the motive fluid to pass from the chamber K into chamber h this opening of the bonnet valve and the release of the pressure taking place before the stud 10 contacts with thevalve actuator U. As the lever continues to be lifted, stud w turns the valve actuator and rotates the valve plug I so as to change the relation of the ports 75: from the position of Figure 8 to that of Figure 7. The port 7c of the valve plug is now in register with the port 0 of the pipe 0 for feeding the motive fluid under pressure to the lower end of the cylinder, forcing the plunger upward, the bonnet valve being closed. The liquid in the cylinder above the plunger flows through the pipe N and its port n, into the passage Z of the valve, thence flowing through the chamber it from the pipe M back to the pump. As the plunger approaches the upper limit of its movement in the cylinder, the flange 0 engages lever B to depress the lever B through link 7*, thus moving the cam lifter to open the bonnet valve and release the pressure on the plug valve before the stud w contacts with the valve actuator U for rotating the plug valve so as to reverse its position within the valve shell H.

Having thus fully described the invention, what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a plunger cylinder, and means for feeding a motive fluid thereto, of a controlling valve positioned in the a! seat by the pressure of said motive fluid,

and plunger operated means for relieving said moving valve part from the pressure of the motive fluid. a

2. ln an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a plunger cylinder, and means for feeding a motive fluid thereto, of a controlling valve positioned in the line of flow of the motive fluid, said valve including a'rotatable valve member exposed to the pressure of the motive fluid,

and an automatically operated relief valve whereby the rotatable valve member is made free from the pressure of the motive fluid.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a plunger cylinder, a plunger, and means for feeding a motive fluid to said cylinder, of a controlling valve positioned in the line of flow of the motive fluid, said controlling valve including a.

member exposed to thepressure of the motive fluid, and means controllable by the movement of said plunger for relieving the movable valve part from the pressure of the motive fluid.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to a plunger cylinder embodying a casing provided with pressure connections and cylinder connections, a rotatable member seated in said casing and exposed to the pressure of the -motive fluid, a valved bypass in communication with the line of pressure, and pressure actuated means for operating said valve in the by-pass.

8. lln an apparatus of the class described,

, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to a plunger cylinder embodying a casing provided with a pressure chamber'and with a by-pass, a

\ rotatable valve part seated in'said casing exposed to the pressure of the motive fluid, a relief valve seated in the bypass, and valve actuating means 'rockable on themtatable valve part for unseating said relief valve...-,

7. in an apparatus of the class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to a plunger cylinder embodying a casing provided with a pressure chamber',a valve member seatedin said casing and exposed to the pres? sure of ,motive fluid in the chamber, a bonnet valve, and means for operating said raoaoei bonnet valve to relieve the first named valve member from the pressure of said motive fluid, said bonnet valve actuator being rockable with the valve member as its axis of motion.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to aplunger cylinder embodying a casing, a movable valve member exposed to the pressure of the motive fluid, a. relief valve positioned to open a path for the flow of the motive fluid so as to relieve the movable valve member from said motive fluid pressure, and plunger controlled means for successively operating said relief valve and the movable valve, member.

9. lln an apparatus of the class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of .a motive fluid relatively to a plunger cylinder embodying a casing,;a rotatable valve member seated therein, a reciprocable relief valve positioned to open a path for the flow of the motive fluid for relieving the rotatable valve member from the motive fluid pressure, operating means for the relief valve, and operating means for the rotatable valve member.

10. lln an apparatus of the class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motivefluid relatively to a plunger cylinder embodying a casing, a rotatable valve member seated therein, a relief valve positioned to open a path for the flow of the motive fluid, and operating means co-operating with the valve member and the relief valve for unseating the relief valve prior to shifting said valve member. 7

11, In an apparatus of the 'class vdescribed, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to z plunger cylinder embodying a casing, a rotatable valve member exposed to the pressure of the motive fluid and normally held to its seat thereby, a relief valve, and operating means for said rotatable valve member and. said relief valve.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to a plunger cylinder embodying a casing provided with a by-pass intermediate a pressure chamber and a return chamber, a rotatable valve member seated in the casing for'exposurs within the pressure chamber, a bonnet valve seated in the bypass intermediate said valve member and the bonnet valve,

13. In an apparatus of the, class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively 1toa chambers, and means for operating the plunger cylinder embodying a casing proe vided with a lay-pass, a relief valve positionedin the by-pass and seated by the preslac 'erating means for said valve lifting cam.

sure of the motive fluid, a valve member seated in the casing, pressure operated means for unseating the relief valve, and means for operating said valve member.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, yalve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to .a plunger cylinder embodying a casing provided with a bypass intermediate a pressure chamber and a return chamber, a relief valve positioned in said by-pass, a rotatable valve member seated in the casing, a bushing rotatably fitted to the valve member, a cam operated by the bushing and-co-oper ating with said relief valve, and operating means for said valve member and the bushing.

15. In an apparatus of the class de scribed, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to aplunger cylinder embodying a casing provided with a by-pass intermediate a pressure chamber and return chamber, a relief valve positioned in said by-pass, a rotatable valve member seated in the casing, a valve cam turnable on the valve member and cooperating with said relief valve, and op 16. In an apparatus of the class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to a plunger cylinder embodying a casing pro vided with a by-pass intermediate a pressure chamber and a return chamber, a relief valve positioned in said by-pass, a rotatable valve member seated in the casing, a bushing rotatably fitted to the valve member,-a cam operated by the bushing and co-operating with said relief valve, a lever movable with said bushing, a valve-actuator fast with valve-member, and means operated by the movement of the lever for imparting rocking movement to the valve member.

17.-In an apparatus of the class described, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a motive fluid relatively to a plunger cylinder embodying a casing provided with a pressure chamber and with ports for the flow of the motive fluid, a valve member provided with a conical head seated in the casing and exposed to the mo-.

-tive fluid, said valve head having fluid passages and ports, adapted for registration with the ports of the casing, a relief valve, and operating means for the relief valve and said valve member. Y

18. In an apparatus of the class described, a plunger cylinder, a plunger, valve mechanism for controlling the flow of the motive fluid relatively to the plunger cylinder, a relief valve whereby the moving part of said valve-mechanism is made free from the pressure of the motive fluid, andmeans operated by the movement of the plunger in one direction for effecting a successive operation of the relief valve and the moving part of said valve mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereto signed my name this 30th day of November, 1921.

JOSEPH DE'FRANCISCI. 

